An elderly Green Tree Drive resident fell victim to one such diversion burglary on Feb. 12 when a man who posed as a water company employee was able to talk his way into her home, said detective Sgt. Robert Bracken, police spokesman.

The suspect, a man in his 30s, possibly Hispanic or Indian, knocked on the elderly woman's door and told her there was a water main break up the street and he was there to test her water to determine whether or not it was contaminated, Bracken said. The woman allowed the man into her home and escorted him to the basement where she remained with him for the duration of his "water check," Bracken said. The suspect was on a cell phone during the "tests," Bracken said, adding he was most likely talking with an accomplice who entered the home while he was distracting the resident in the basement.

When the suspect was done, the resident escorted him to the door where she observed him walk down the street and enter an unknown and unmarked vehicle, Bracken said. When the woman recounted the story to a relative, the relative became suspicious and told her to check the house, Bracken said. When the victim entered her bedroom she found it had been ransacked and jewelry was reported stolen along with collectibles that had belonged to her late husband, Bracken said.

Bracken said other reports of similar scam teams have been called in by other Clifton residents who did not allow the suspects into their homes and reported the attempt to police.

Bracken said the scam or diversion burglary involves at least two individuals. He said one pretends to be doing work for either the gas company or the water company and talks his way into the home and while the resident is distracted, a second suspect enters the home and searches for valuables. The suspects remain in contact via a cell phone during the crime, Bracken said.

"These criminals target the elderly because they are an easier target," Bracken said, adding the elderly are more trusting. He advises residents to not open the door for anyone they do not know.

"Don't open the door and don't talk to anyone you don't know," Bracken said, adding "If someone rings your doorbell and you don't know them, don't open the door and call police." He said officers would arrive on scene and check the legitimacy of the visitors.

Two similar incidents were reported to police in January, one on Chelsea Road and the other on Belmont Avenue. Neither resident allowed the visitor to enter. In both instances, the suspects claimed to work for the water company and matched the description of the suspect who robbed the Green Tree Drive resident.